Russia Caps Retail Crypto at $4,000 a Year via Licensed Brokers

Institutional investors face no cap. The central bank said qualified investors – those meeting asset or income thresholds – can trade without the $4,000 ceiling.

The restrictions mirror a global pattern. Regulators from the EU to Hong Kong have drawn lines between retail and professional crypto access, capping the former while letting the latter trade freely. Russia's annual cap is lower than most: the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation allows up to €1,000 per transaction without a mandatory investor warning, while Hong Kong's regime requires a net-worth test for retail access.

The central bank has not said when the rules take effect. Licensed intermediaries must register with the regulator before offering crypto services.